This is a CFP for a proposed panel to be held at (dis)junctions, the 15thannual humanities conference at University of California Riverside on April11-12, 2008. Since David Edelstein dubbed â€œHostelâ€ (2005) â€œtorture porn,â€the term has been applied to such diverse films as the â€œSawâ€ series, â€œWolfCreekâ€ and even â€œThe Passion of the Christ.â€ Is the phenomenon known bythis name simply a logical next step in horror or is it so far removed fromits Grand Guignol origins as to become something else entirely? Justbecause it makes some uncomfortable, should the entire genre be maligned insuch a facile way? What function does it perform in our society?Contributors are invited to submit critical works that examine torturenarratives from a variety of critical perspectives.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to: The commodification of torture Torture on the screen and in the news Saw Hostel Wolf Creek

Abstracts of 250-300 words should be submitted by email tomichael.podolny_at_email.ucr.edu by the deadline of February 16, 2008 (text inthe body of the message; please no attachments). Please include all contactinformation and institution affiliation.